Trevor Jackson
Emotions flowed over on the weekend for Penola racer Brad Gartner for a couple of reasons.
Gartner has competed in this year’s Circuit Excel South Australia State Championship season and came away with his first round win at the Tailem Bend circuit.
But there was more to the weekend than just a race victory.
Gartner had a special wrap on his car, dedicated to two neighbours who passed away from Motor Neurone Disease.
That added to the emotions, with plenty of tears shed when the round was done.
Regarding the weekend’s races, Gartner said it was a huge effort.
“We got the win, top spot, which was massive,” the 19-year-old racer said.
“It is one of the most competitive series out of the state level racing for Excels.
“We get on average over 35 competitors and we’ve had two races over 40 this year.
“We got a race win when we had 47 cars and I won the whole round this time with 42 cars.”
The round victory came after two race wins, a second and a third in an impressive display of driving.
It was more impressive considering it was Gartner’s first full season in the category, after completing just two random weekends last season.
“We started Round 1 this year and did the entire season,” he said.
“Going off my numbers we will be third for the championship.
“Now we just have an enduro to go, not part of the championship, which will take place on November 19 at Tailem Bend.”
To win the round with the wrap on the car, which showed the faces of his two neighbours, while also raising money for MND was the icing on the cake.
Gartner said it was an emotional time and explained his reasons for the venture.
“Our neighbours, the Moulton family, run a farm near us,” he said.
“They have known me as long as I have been alive.
“Helen their mum died to Motor Neurones 21 years ago.
“I wasn’t alive – I am only 19 now.
“Then ‘Grub’, David, passed away two months back for the same reason.”
Gartner said he was very close to David as he was growing up and the family were always interested in his motorsport career.
“The Moulton family always came along and watched my races,” he said.
“They always supported me with a bit of money every year.
“They always wanted to know how I went and were always up for a chat.
“They really supported me, which is good for a small town.
“When David got told he had Motor Neurones I thought I would have to do something at the next race.
“Little did I know he was going to pass away.
“Then I thought I would wrap the whole car as a tribute.”
To gain the round win was a fitting result, given the circumstances.
The whole process has raised in the vicinity of $6000 to $7000 dollars which goes directly to the MND South Australia Foundation.
Gartner simply described it as amazing.
“When I surprised the family with the car, two days before my 19th birthday, they said ‘why don’t we go to the pub and raise some money for this’,” he said.
“Considering it was a two-day turnaround, the donations from local businesses and everywhere has been overwhelming.”
Gartner said he approached the weekend with the hope of a race win, which he said would be a fitting result for him and the Moulton family.
“I wanted a race win, considering the circumstances with the people on my bonnet,” he said.
“To win with everything, with the fundraising and doing that for that family, it was the most fitting thing that could happen.
“I was top points Saturday night and I thought how good it would be to get my first round win in the scenario.
“When I got the first race win of the weekend I would have had 20-odd people all from my home town supporting me, clapping.
“It was very emotional, a lot of tears.”
